The highest priority of the Village of Oswego’s snow and ice program is to ensure the safety of Village streets for our residents and first responders during winter weather events. In addition, our snow program aims to be efficient with taxpayer dollars and environmentally responsible.

Storm Operations 

Prior to winter weather events, Village crews may begin an anti-icing program that includes two different applications of a liquid mixture of salt brine, calcium chloride, and an agricultural product (typically beet juice).  Crews custom-blend the mixture for each snowstorm based on projected pavement and air temperatures and wind speeds to efficiently slow roadway icing. This mixture is applied to roads up to 48 hours before it snows and can be seen in longitudinal stripes along the pavement. It is applied again directly to the rock salt just prior to distributing the salt onto the roadway. When applied to the rock salt, the liquid mixture helps the rock salt activate and work in colder temperatures and reduces how much the salt bounces when it hits the pavement. The liquids are not applied if the storm starts as rain and changes to snow as the rain will wash away the material.

Crews begin full plowing operations when conditions are appropriate, typically after approximately two inches of snow have begun to accumulate on paved services and snow is still falling.   Plow trucks may begin plowing sooner or later in a particular snowstorm to ensure enough staffing and rest breaks throughout lengthy major blizzards and ice storms. 

Oswego has established a priority plowing system for its more than 330 miles  of roadway so that the main traffic routes and collector roads are cleared first. Crews then address neighborhood streets. The Village contracts with private companies for cul-de-sacs.

The last task is pushing back corners, cleaning up areas where cars may have been parked, and one last check through the entire Village to re-salt and plow where necessary. Heavier snows, extreme drops in temperature, heavy wet snow, and blowing and drifting snow will increase the time it takes to clear routes.

Regional Roadways

Some regional roadways are the responsibility of other local governments to clear: 

• IDOT:  US Route 30, US Route 34, Illinois Route 71, Illinois Route 25, and Illinois Route 31.
• Kendall County: Orchard Road, Grove Road, Plainfield Road
• Oswego Township: Roads in unincorporated areas 

Regional Roadway Contact Information

• IDOT: 800-452-4368
• Kendall County Highway Department: 630-553-7616
• Oswego Township Road District: 630-264-4587

Cul-de-sacs

Cul-de-Sacs pose a special challenge. The structure of cul-de-sacs makes them time-consuming to plow, and the Village contracts with a private service to plow them in a timely manner. Private contractors respond at the Village’s order and may be called out multiple times during an intense winter storm to ensure cul-de-sacs remain passable. However, some snow and ice may remain on cul-de-sacs following storms, and it is not always possible to move large snow piles generated by cul-de-sacs into more convenient places. 

Driveways

Residents are responsible for shoveling their driveways. Village crews try to avoid putting large piles of snow in front of driveways; however, snowplows must push the snow out of the road to allow for safe travel, and this often results in snow piling at the curb. Residents who do not wish to shovel multiple times may wish to wait to shovel until streets have been plowed curb-to-curb following a storm.
Place snow in your yard and not in the street. Putting snow in the street causes slippery conditions for both motorists and pedestrians and is against Village ordinance.

Sidewalks

Residents and/or property owners are asked, but not required, to shoved their sidewalks to help keep pedestrians, including children walking to school, safe. Do not deposit snow from shoveling into the street. Sump pump discharges should not be run onto the sidewalk or street, as the water can freeze and cause a hazard. Note that some homeowners associations may establish standards for clearing sidewalks in specific subdivisions.  Contact your HOA for more information.

The Village clears snow from certain downtown sidewalks and Village-owned parking lots.

Fire hydrants 

Residents are asked to clear snow around fire hydrants to aid firefighters in an emergency. Be a good neighbor and clear snow from fire hydrants and sidewalks for your neighbors with low mobility, too. 

Mailboxes

Snowplow drivers are careful to avoid damaging mailboxes, however, with limited space to pile snow and hundreds of miles of roadway to plow during each snowstorm, drivers cannot avoid pushing snow against mailboxes. 

Residents should ensure their mailboxes are secured before winter weather hits. Check that your mailbox post is straight and that the box is not leaning over the curb. Replace damaged or rotting posts. Check the connection point between the box and the post to ensure that the box is securely fastened. The U.S. Postal Service offers Guidelines for Mailbox Installation and Placement.   

If your mailbox is damaged during a snowstorm, report it within 3 business days of the snow event by calling Public Works at 630-554-3242 or by using the My311 app.  A Public Works representative will determine if the damage is caused by Village snow plowing equipment. If so, the Village will reimburse the homeowner up to $100.00 for mailbox replacement. If the damage is caused by snow coming off the plow blade, or some other undetermined cause, the Village cannot provide reimbursement. All receipts must be submitted by April 30 to be reimbursed. No reimbursements can be made after that date, and all costs will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Salt and the Environment

Too much salt on our roadways can fall or melt off into our streams and river through the sewer system as well as burn grass and other plants. Excess salt in the environment can kill plants and aquatic animals, strip the soil of nutrients and leave lasting damage in our environment. Conserving salt can help make a big fiscal and environmental difference, and through our anti-icing program and the conservative use of salt, the Village of Oswego is staying committed to the safety of our drivers, responsibility to our taxpayers, and stewardship of the Fox River and our environment. 

In addition to helping crews remove snow and ice faster and at lower temperatures, the Village’s liquid anti-icing system benefits the environment, reducing the average amount of salt applied during each storm by 15 to 20 percent. 

Residents can help in this effort by taking some simple steps to reduce the amount of salt used on your driveways and sidewalks and help preserve the Fox River:

• Salt works best before snowfall. If you salt once before any snow hits the ground, you won’t have to salt again. This also makes shoveling easier.
• When salting your driveway or sidewalk, remember that more salt does not mean more melting. A 12-ounce coffee mug of salt should be enough to cover 12 squares of sidewalk, or about 300 square feet.
• Most salt stops working if the temperature is under 15 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do salt under this temperature, no melting will occur and you’ll be wasting time, money and the health of our waterways.

Working with our neighbors

The Village of Oswego is at the forefront of shared service initiatives to deliver services to our taxpayers efficiently. The Village produces anti-icing solution for Oswego and its neighboring communities. In exchange, plows from our neighbors will clear roadways on their way in and out of town, saving time and money during winter storms.

Parking Restrictions

Village ordinance prohibits parking on streets after two inches of snowfall. This restriction is in effect until the street has been plowed curb to curb, and includes all vehicles, including those with an on-street overnight parking exemption. 

Plow Safety

Snow plowing equipment should always travel in the direction of traffic flow. The speed of the plow will vary with the amount and type of snow fall, condition of the roadway and traffic. 

 

Visibility from within snowplows is limited. Stay back at least 75 feet from the rear of any plow truck and do not pass plow trucks at any time. Remind children to also stay away from plows, and to not build snow forts near streets.

Report a problem

My311 app lets you report a snow or ice problem directly to our Public Works team and helps us work more efficiently. With just a couple clicks on your computer or smart phone, you can report an issue, tell us the location, and even snap a photo or track the status of your request. Visit www.oswegoil.org/problem to get started, or download the iPhone or Android app straight from your app store.

You may also call our Public Works facility at 630-554-3242 for assistance during regular business hours, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.